Somali mp shot dead

A Somali member of parliament has been shot dead in Mogadishu in an attack by suspected Islamist militants. Security officials said that Yusuf Dirir was killed when gunmen opened fire on his car.

Three workers from the Transport Ministry also died in a separate drive-by shooting on Saturday. The attacks in the capital city came as a number of people were killed in clashes between al-Shabab gunmen and government troops in southern Somalia.

Police said that Mr Dirir had been killed when gunmen in a minibus blocked his route and sprayed the car with bullets.